Fasting and Prayer

Let’s be clear in our thoughts. There’s no value before God in the mere abstinence from food. The value stems from the ability to put God first by the laying aside of other things. Fasting is an indication of the earnestness of the soul. It is honestly and sincerely, sometimes desperately, reaching out for God and His will. Fasting indicates that there’s something we want either in ourselves or for God so greatly that we want to put everything aside until we attain it. Fasting is the complete emptying of everything in order that God may fill us.

Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? 6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:5-8 NIV

Pastor Winston

Fasting and Prayer

We must confess that in today’s world fasting is little known and seldom practiced. Yet in the scriptures there was much fasting with desirable results. Moses fasted forty days on Sinai. Joshua, David, Ezra, Daniel, Nehemiah fasted. Our Lord fasted in the wilderness. Cornelius was fasting when God sent the angel. The church at Antioch fasted when the Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Saul.

When fasting is mentioned in the Bible the results are always commendable.

2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. 2 Chronicles 20:2-4 NIV

21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast , so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. Ezra 8:21 NIV

Pastor Winston

Fasting and Prayer

What is the relationship of fasting to prayer? Is prayer made more acceptable to God if we fast? Is there virtue to fasting if we do not pray? What is the spiritual significance?

We will be looking at these questions over the next several days.

Isaiah 58:1-9 NKJV

Pastor Winston